Georgia Supports Ukraine as Russia Opened Fire to Three Ukrainian Vessels
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Tuesday, November 27
The Georgian Government says that Russia has violated the international maritime law and created a threat to the regional security when it opened fire to three Ukrainian vessels in the Black sea, seized them and captivated their 23 crew members on Sunday.
“We are closely following alarming developments in Azov Sea and Kerch Strait. The attack on Ukrainian navy vessels and seizure of them is a blatant violation of International maritime law and undermines the security of the whole region. Georgia fully supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani wrote on his Twitter page.
On Monday Zalkaliani met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Georgia Ihor Dolhov to receive the latest information regarding the confrontation.
Dolhov told the media after the meeting that his country was grateful for Georgia’s firm support and called upon the international community to give a relevant response to the Russian open aggression at today’s UN Security Council.
Dolhov also stated that out of the 23 crew members six are wounded.
Russia claims that Ukraine “illegally entered its waters” and it “was forced” to take appropriate measures.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has stated that he supports the Military Cabinet’s proposal that martial law should be introduced in the country after an attack by Russia’s special forces on Ukrainian vessels near the Kerch Strait.
He said that the introduction of martial law does not mean a declaration of war. According to him, this decision does not provide an urgent mobilization, but the first line reserve of Ukraine’s army should be ready.
Russia and Ukraine have had a dispute over the access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov since 2014, since the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula by Russia.
On November 25 Russia opened fire to Ukraine's Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats, and the Yana Kapa tug, which were sailing from the Odessa port of the Black Sea to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.
The Ukrainian government stated that Russia tried to intercept the ships through ramming the tug.
Ukraine says that the vessels continued their way to the Kerch Strait, which is an only access to the Azov Sea. However, a Russian tanker blocked them.
Later Russia sent two helicopters and two fighter jets to the scene, which hit gunboats and prevented them from leaving.
